Athletic protector



y 1942- w. B. MATTHEWS 2,283,684 ATHLETIC PBO'PECTOR I Filed July 11, 1941 INVENTOR v w MATThEK J BY I A oRzEY Patented May 19, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT orece Amnrii iiifiracros 7 Application July 11, 1941, Serial No. 401,894

6 Claims. (Cl. 128-460) This invention relates to improvements in athletic protectors and more particularly relates to a protective device which is designed to provide a maximum of protection with a; minimum of inconvenience to the wearer.

A further object of my invention is to provide an athletic protector which is light in weight and which enables the wearer to engage in athletic activities without inconvenience.

A further object of my invention is to provide an athletic protector incorporating novel means for absorbing impacts directed thereagainst.

A further object of my invention is to provide an athletic protector comprising a relatively rigid cup member provided with a resilient shock absorbing member marginally secured thereto.

These and other advantageous objects are accomplished by the simple and practical construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and exhibited in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of an athletic.

protector embodying my invention, shown partly inserted in a carrying pouch,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the athletic protector of my invention, with the resilient shock absorbing member thereof shown partly open to reveal details of construction,

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view thereof,

Fig. 4 is a similar view of the device with the resilient shock absorbing member removed therefrom,

Fig. 5 is a longitudinalsectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 3, in the direction indicated by the arrows, and

Fig. 6 is a top plan, partly fragmentary view of the U-shaped shock absorbing unit which is marginally secured to the cup member of my protector.

As shown in the drawing, the athletic protector of my invention comprises a member I which, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, is of generally cupshaped longitudinal and transverse configuration and is downwardly tapered. The member ID may be made of any desired or convenient plastic or other material, and has an arcuate marginal bead II defining the upper end thereof and an upstanding end wall I2 defining the lower end thereof. The member I0 is further provided with a plurality of apertures I3 which lighten the device and cooperate in providing a respiratory eifect when the device is worn. The member In is downwardly tapered from the marginal bead II (see Fig. 4) and is provided with marginal slots I4 and I for a purpose presently explained; as will be noted from Fig. 4 of the drawing, the device is preferably of concave cross section indicated by shading. A U-shaped shock-absorbing member, It made of any desired or convenient resilient material is marginally s'ecured to the member II) as indicated in Figs. 2, 3 and 5, being shown in Fig. 6 apart from the device. The member IB is of generally U-shaped outline and of generally U-shaped cross section, and is provided, adjacent the free ends of its legs IT, with internal transverse integral fingers I8 adapted for insertion in the slots I4 to secure the member I6 to the member III as indicated in Figs. 3 and 5. The member I6 is thus secured to the member ID, the intermediate portion I8 being positioned in the slots I5 and over the end Wall I2 as indicated in Fig. 3 with the fingers I 8 of legs I! positioned in the slots I4 and with the legs I1 straddling the marginal edges I9 of member ID. As will be apparent from an inspection of Fig. 6, the member I6 is normally of considerably less length than when applied to the member I0 so that it is necessary to stretch the leg members I! in assembly of the device, with the result that the said leg members I! will be suspended taut between the slots I4 and I5, providing a cushioning yielding effect on application of transverse force at points A and B (Fig. 3) preventing chafing of the legs of the wearer when walking with the device in position. The legs I! are further provided with downwardly directed internal integral ribs 20 which are adapted to abut the marginal edges I9 of member ID to absorb and cushion the shock on application of force in the direction of the arrows C in Fig. 5. The intermediate portion I8 of the member I6, being positioned over the end wall I2 of the member I0 (see Figs. 3 and 5), is adapted to absorb impacts directed at the point D against the wall I2 at the lower end of thedevice.

It will thus-be seen that the device of my invention is adapted to absorb impacts effectively from any direction and to yield in normal walking movements. The protector of my invention may be secured to the wearer by any suitable carrying means, for example by providing a waist band 2I provided with depending leg members 22 and having secured thereto a pouch 23 adapted to receive the athletic protector of my invention,

. which is shown partly inserted inthe pouch 23 inFig. 1. The carrying means may-be of any other desired or convenient form and may if desired be along the general lines of that shown in my Patent No. 2,249,966 issued July 22, 1941.

shock absorbing member secured to said body member, said shock absorbing member being provided with internal transverse integral fingers inserted in said slots to secure the shock absorbing member to the body member.

3. An athletic protector comprisinga body member provided with slots and with an upstanding end wall, and a shock absorbing member having an intermediate portion positioned over said wall and having leg members secured in said slots.

4. An athletic protector comprising a body member and a shock absorbing member ofgenerally U-shaped cross section and U-shaped outline secured to and straddling the marginal edges of said body member, said shock absorbing member being provided with leg members having integral internal ribs adapted to engage the marginal edges of the body member to absorb and cushion the shock on application of force.

5. An athletic protector comprising a body member of generally cup-shaped configuration, said member being provided with marginal slots, and a shock absorbing member positioned in said slots and coacting therewith to hold the shock absorbing member on the body member.

6. An athletic protector comprising a body member having two ends, said body member being'provided with a pair of slots adjacent one end and with. an upstanding wall at the other end, a pair of slots adjacent the end wall, and a shockabsorbing member positioned in all of the slots and over the end wall, said shock absorbing member coacting with all of, said slots and with the end wallto hold the shock absorbing member on the body member and over the end Wall.

WILLIAM B. MATTHEWS. 

